Rail-joint.



No. 867,657. PATENTED OGT. 8,1907.

' RAIL JOINT. APPVL'IOATION rum) ms. 28; 1001.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH J. HERNDON, OF NEWKIRK, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO ABNER O. HARRINGTON, OF NEWKIRK, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPH J. HnRNDoN, a.citizen of the United States,residing at N ewkirk, in the county of Kay and Territory of Oklahoma,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, ofwhich the following is a specification. This invention has for itsobject an improved construction of rail joint which will securely holdthe two abutting ends of rails together and in proper alinement withoutthe expense and weakening effect of drilling holes inthe rails, whichmay be easily applied and removed so as to replace an old rail with anew one, without removing the spikes that hold the chair to the tics,which will be cheap to manufacture and therefore be economical in use,and which will be durable and efficient.

With this and other objects in view, as will more fully appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructionsand combinations of the parts hereinafter described and claimed.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view illustrating the application of myimproved rail joint; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view; and, Fig. 3is a detail perspective view of thechair detached.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

Referring to the drawing, the numerals 1 and 2 designate the abuttingends of two rails and 3 the base plate of my improved chair. The saidbase plate extends across the lower face of the base of both rails andis provided at one side with a preferably integral plate 4 which extendsupwardly and inwardly over one base flange of the rails, the said chairbeing provided at its edge with two or more notches to receive thespikes for holding this side edge of the device to the ties.

Coacting with the integral plate 4 is a removable plate 5 which isadapted to extend up over the opposite base flange of the rails,preferably into engagement with the web of the rails, and the saidremovable plate 5 is preferably provided with two or more lugs 6 adaptedto fit into sockets 7 in the said base flange of the rails. Bolts 8extend upwardly through the base plate 3 of the chair and through theremovable plate 5, and nuts 9 work on said bolts and secure theremovable plate 5 to the base plate 3, as shown. The said nuts 9 arepreferably locked and held from working loose by means of a lock-bar 10which is forked at its'ends, as shown, to fit securely down over thenuts. The base plate 3 is provided near its outer edge with two or moreopenings for the reception of spikes, as shown.

From. the foregoing description in connection with the accompanyingdrawing it will be seen that my improved rail joint may be readilyapplied to the ends of the rails and that an old rail may be readilytaken out and replaced by a new one whenever desired. It is nevernecessary in this operation of replacing an old rail by a new one, toremove the spikes which hold the chair to the ties, as it is onlynecessary to first remove the lock-bar 10 and unscrew the nuts 9 andremove the removable plate 5, whereupon it is manifest that the railsmay be slid outwardly from engagement with the permanent or integralplate 4 of the chair.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: v

The combination with the two abutting ends of rails, of a chairconsisting of a base plate adapted to extend under the rails andprovided with an integral plate adapted to extend up over one baseflange of the rails, a removable plate adapted to extend over theopposite base flange, bolts extending through the base plate and throughthe removable plate whereby to secure the said removable plate in place,said bolts being provided with nuts on their upper ends, and a lock-barprovided with forked ends fitted over said nuts.

In testimony whereof I afl'ix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH J. HERNDON. [L. 8.]

Witnesses:

'A. C. HARRINGTON,

S. H. Srnvnns.

